Hosiery supporting means



1952 K. SCHAFLER HOSIERY SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Aug. 16. 1949 42/ Saw Aim IN V EN TOR.

' [Fain e2 Patented F eb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,585,853 HOSIERY SUPPORTING S Kay Schafler, Ocean Side, N. Y.

Application August 16, 1949, Serial No. 110,540

1 Claim. i

The present invention relates to ladies hosiery and the like, and more particularly to supporting means therefor.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a stocking with novel and improved means thereon which will make the stocking self-supporting on the leg of a wearer, thus eliminating the need of separate garters, hose supporters and the like, and the wearing of a girdle, which too often is worn only for the purpose of holding up the stockings.

Another object hereof is to provide a stocking with novel and improved means thereon, which by a new mode of operation will make the stocking self-supporting on the limb of the wearer; the novel characteristic of such means being, that it will automatically tighten its grip on the leg, upon any attempt of the stocking to loosen and slide.

A further object hereof is to provide a stocking with an improved supporting means of novel construction, which can be applied to stockings in being as an addition thereto, but which requires no change in the manufacture of the stocking itself.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as thi disclosure proceeds.

Essentially, in the practice of this invention, I have the stocking carry one or more rather thick threads, each arranged around the upper region of the stocking in the form of a helix of a few close turns with ends secured to the stocking proper, but each thread is free for movement along its own length. Preferably, each of said threads start at or near the top rim of the stocking and may be mounted by being basestitched around the stocking body. For efiective operation, a plurality of threads are so mounted, and it is preferred that some of the threads be Wound clockwise and some counterclockwise about the stocking body.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Fig. 1 pictorially shows a stocking, which in its top region carries a plurality of threads arranged in a formation in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows the starting points of several of the threads at the top rim of a stocking and by means of arrows, indicates the respective directions in which said threads are mounted around the stocking body.

Fig. 3 is,a highly magnified view of a portion 2 of the upper region of the stocking showing a preferred manner in which the individual threads are stitched onto the stocking body and the relation of the stitches of the respective threads.

In the drawings, the numeral I5 designates a stocking whose upper band C is usually of closely woven nature and resiliently hugs the leg IE it surrounds. I have this band carry a number of rather thick threads which may be non-elastic. These threads may be base-stitched through the stocking body. One or more of these threads may be used, but I prefer to have a plurality of them carried around the band C. Each of these threads which I designate by the numerals l1, l8, I9, 20, 2| and 22 respectively, are positioned around the band C in the form of a helix of a few close turns. Each thread is secured at, and starts at points on the top rim of the stocking or very near said rim. Such starting points are designated by the numerals [1 through 22 respectively. The other ends of said threads are also secured to the body of the stocking in any suitable fashion, but each of the threads is free for movement along its own length. I therefore prefer that all stitches shall be free of all other stitches, that is there shall be no contact of the stitches of different threads, as is shown and accomplished in Fig. 3. It is preferred that the starting points at the top rim of the stocking shall be equi-spaced, and that alternate threads be wound and carried on band C in clockwise and counterclockwise directions respectively; the clockwise windings being indicated by the arrows A, and the counterclockwise by the arrows B. I find it practical that each helix mentioned, be of from two and one-half to three turns each.

To don or take off the stockings from the leg, the stocking is rolled rather than slid on or off.

Now, consider a thread wound as a helix of few close turns about a leg or arm. If you pull on one end of such thread, the thread will tighten around the arm and securely grip such limb. This is exactly what happens if the stocking starts to slip down on the leg of the wearer. The threads ll through 22, tighten their grip hold on the leg and the stocking stays up, because it is the bottom of band C which would tend to slip downward on the leg before the top end of the stocking, hence all the bottom ends of said threads are pulled, and said threads tighten on the leg. Because each of the threads is of several turns around the leg, it is found that a slight shifting of the stocking will immediately insure a tightening of the threads.

Instead of thick threads, strings, cords, narrow ribbons or other string-like members may be used. It is therefore intended that the designation string-like members shall be deemed to include all these.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein set forth. It is therefore intended and-desired that the embodiment herein shall be deemed illustrative and not restrictive and that the patent shall cover all patentable novelty herein set forth; reference being had to the following claim rather than to the specific description herein to indicate the scope of this invention.

I claim: 7

In combination with a stocking, a. supporting means therefor comprising an even number of string-like members basted movably on and around the upper region of the stocking and each arranged thereon as a. helix of a plurality of turns; half the number of said helixes being wound in clockwise direction and the remainder in counter-clockwise direction, and all said helixes between their ends, being out of contact with each other; the lower end of each helix being movable with the stocking downwardly on the leg of a wearer.

KAY SCHAFLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,190,560 Gaines Feb. 13, 1940 2,476,122 Temple July 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 479,120 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1938 

